Update
January 2017
At the end of 2016/17, the Global Shakespeare partnership between QMUL and the University of Warwick concluded, with both institutions continuing to explore opportunities for collaboration in the future. From 2017/18 the MA in Global Shakespeare will no longer be available. People interested in applying for a Master’s course in this area are encouraged to consider other postgraduate study options related to Shakespeare.
- This website archvies the work the Global Shakespeare project did between 2013 and 2017.
- For more information on global Shakespeare studies at Queen Mary University of London, please contact Professor David Schalkwyk, Chair in Shakespeare Studies at QMUL.
- For more information on global Shakespeare studies at the University of Warwick, please head to the Global Shakespeare Research Group.
Current students will be able to continue their MA studies as planned, with teaching, support and administration continuing to be provided through the Global Shakespeare Academic Manager and Director, and the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). Current students will graduate with an MA in Global Shakespeare from the University of Warwick and QMUL as planned.
Applicants currently under consideration who meet the entry requirements for the Global Shakespeare MA and applicants with a deferred offer for 2016/17 will be considered for alternative MA courses as follows:
- The MA in English Literature at the University of Warwick
- The MA in English Studies at Queen Mary University of London
If you have any questions, please contact Professor David Schalkwyk (Academic Director of Global Shakespeare): d.schalkwyk@qmul.ac.uk.
FAQs
Current students
- I’m studying the course at the moment. How will I be affected?
We are all working to ensure that you don’t experience any disruption. There won’t be any changes until the end of August 2017, and these changes will only affect the ‘behind-the-scenes’ administration of Global Shakespeare. The Academic Manager will continue to support you and the administration of the course until the end of August 2017, after which the School of English and Drama at QMUL will look after you. Practically, this will only affect who administers the submission of your dissertation and the Exam Board, so you shouldn’t be aware of the changes. The Academic Director will continue to support you through August and beyond, so you can continue to refer to Professor Schalkwyk if you have any questions. You will graduate with an MA in Global Shakespeare from the University of Warwick and Queen Mary University of London as planned.
- Will the changes affect my core and elective module at Warwick?
No – you’ll attend the core module and elective module that you have chosen as planned. Queen Mary University of London and the University of Warwick will still be partners at this time, so there will be no changes to your teaching in the second semester.
Prospective students
- I’m thinking of applying for this course. How will I be affected?
If you are an applicant to Global Shakespeare currently under consideration and you meet the entry requirements, or you hold a deferred offer for 2016/17, you will be considered for a place on an alternative MA course at either the University of Warwick or Queen Mary University of London. To talk through your options, please contact Dr Rebecca Fisher, the Academic Manager for Global Shakespeare (Rebecca.Fisher@warwick.ac.uk).
You may also want to contact Professor David Colclough, Head of the School of English at Queen Mary University of London (d.p.colclough@qmul.ac.uk), and Professor Maureen Freely, Head of the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick.
Other people interested in applying for an MA in this area are welcome to contact us for advice on other postgraduate study options related to Shakespeare.
Alumni and current students
- Does this reduce the validity of my MA in Global Shakespeare?
The MA programme itself is being discontinued because it is not financially viable. This is not a reflection of the quality of the course, which has been recognised as being of the highest quality by External Examiners.
Students who have successfully completed the MA will be graduates of the University of Warwick and Queen Mary University of London, and will have full access to the support, alumni community, and institutional reputation affiliation this brings.
- Will I still be able to get academic references?
Yes. You are welcome to stay in touch with the academics with whom you have worked during your MA.
General
- What will happen to the GS team?
The Academic Director is likely to remain at Queen Mary University of London as a member of academic staff in the School of English and Drama. The Academic Manager will move into another post. You are welcome to stay in touch with us!
- Why is the course being discontinued?
The MA recruited small numbers of students since its inception in 2014. Unfortunately this means that the course isn’t financially viable.
- What is the timeline for the changes?
There won’t be any changes until 2017/18, at which point the Global Shakespeare MA will be discontinued, and existing applicants to Global Shakespeare will be considered for alternative MA courses. From 2018/19 the course will not be available.